Leopoldo Figueroa

Leopoldo Figueroa Carreras

Cámara de Representantes de Puerto Rico
Member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives
from the 4 Bayamón-Cataño-Guaynabo district
In office
1933–1944
Personal details
Born September 21, 1887
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Died October 15, 1969
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Political party Republican Union
New Progressive Party, Republican Party
Profession Politician, journalist, medical doctor and lawyer.
Note: Figueroa co-founded the Independence Association, which later merged with two other political organizations to form the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party

Dr. Leopoldo Figueroa (September 21, 1887 - October 15, 1969) a.k.a. "The deacon of the Puerto Rican Legislature", was a Puerto Rican politician, journalist, medical doctor and lawyer. Figueroa, who began his political career as an advocate of Puerto Rican Independence, was the co-founder of the "Independence Association", one of three political organizations which merged to form the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. Figueroa, had changed political ideals and in 1948, was a member of the Partido Estadista Puertorriqueño (Puerto Rican Statehood Party). That year, he was the only member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives who did not belong to the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico PPD, who opposed the PPD's approval of the infamous Law 53, also known as "Puerto Rico's Gag Law" and "Ley de La Mordaza", which violated the civil rights of those who favored Puerto Rican Independence. On December 22, 2006, the Puerto Rican Legislature approved a law declaring every September 21, Leopoldo Figueroa Carreras Day.[1]

Early years

Figueroa (birth name: Leopoldo Figueroa Carreras[note 1]) was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico when the island was still a Spanish Colony. He became interested in politics at an early age due to the influences of his father who was a personal friend of the Puerto Rican political leader Luis Muñoz Rivera and his uncle Sotero Figueroa, a close friend of Cuban revolutionary leader José Martí.[1]

In 1898, when he was 11 years old, the United States invaded Puerto Rico. Some Puerto Rican leaders such as José de Diego and Eugenio María de Hostos expected the United States to grant the island its independence.[2][3] However, this did not concur with the Monroe Doctrine, or the geopolitical interests of the United States. Under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 ratified on December 10, 1898, Puerto Rico was annexed by the United States. Spain had lost its last colony in the western hemisphere, and the United States gained imperial strength and global presence.[4]

When he was 14 years old, he began participating in the political activities of the "Puerto Rican Federal Party", a party which supported greater self-rule for the island founded by Muñoz Rivera. His interest in journalism was influenced by his uncle who was the manager of "Patria", a newspaper founded by Martí.[1]

Political career

Figueroa became active in the Union Party of Puerto Rico which was founded in February 1904 by Luis Muñoz Rivera, Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón, Antonio R. Barceló, José de Diego and others after the disbanding of the Federal Party. The party supported greater self-government for the island. The party was divided between those in favor of independence and those favoring United States statehood. Figueroa was amongst those who favored the pro-independence ideal for the island. He belonged to the Unionist subcommittee of the town of Cataño. In 1906, Figueroa decided to study medicine at the University of Havana in Cuba. Before he departed overseas, he published an article titled "Adios Patria" (Good-bye my nation) in the newspaper "El Eco de Cataño". In his article he promised to return and to fight for his country against the impositions imposed by the new tyrant (the United States).[1]

During his stay in Cuba, he resided with his uncle Sotero Figueroa. Figueroa befriended various Puerto Ricans who were self exiled and lived there because of their political believes. Among his friends were Lola Rodríguez de Tió and Sergio Cuevas Zequeira. Figueroa earned his medical degree in 1910 and returned to Puerto Rico.[1]

Return to Puerto Rico

He continued in his political activities upon his return to the island. In the 1912, Union Party Assembly, celebrated in Mayagüez Figueroa presented a motion which if approved would expel the members who favored US statehood for Puerto Rico. His motion was opposed by party leaders Herminio Díaz Navarro, Rafael Cuevas Zequeira and Martín Travieso and was not accepted. In the elections of 1914, he was elected to the Camera of Delegates in representation of the District of San Juan. That same year Barceló, Muñoz Rivera and de Diego were members of an executive council that attempted to form an alliance between the Union and Republican Parties. In 1915, Figueroa and José De Diego traveled to the Dominican Republic and Cuba with the intention of organizing a Union of the Antilles and to gather support for Puerto Rican Independence movement.[1]

By 1920, Figueroa was disillusioned with the party leadership and together with José S. Alegría (father of Ricardo Alegría) and Eugenio Font Suárez co-founded the Independence Association of Puerto Rico. The Independence Association merged with José Coll y Cuchí's Nationalist Association of Puerto Rico and the Nationalist Youth political organization to form the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party.[1]

In the elections of that year he was elected to the position of Commissioner of Public Service. In 1924, the Union Party joined with dissident members of the Republican Party to form the Alianza ("Alliance"). This group generally supported autonomy for Puerto Rico. Figueroa was re-elected to the same political position as before, but this time as member of the new political organization.[1]

Besides his political obligations, Figueroa continued to practice his medical profession as director of the Maternity Hospital in San Juan. In 1928, he published a medical treatise titled, "Mortalidad infantil".[1][5]

Change of Political ideologies

Figueroa began to doubt that the United States would grant Puerto Rico its independence and that said ideals were more wishful thinking then realistic. He realized that with the passage of the Jones-Shafroth Act which imposed a conditional US citizenship upon the people of Puerto Rico (Puerto Ricans did not ask for it nor had any say in the matter) the United States had made it clear that the United States had no intentions of granting Puerto Rico independence.[6] His doubts lead him to embrace the idea that Puerto Rico would eventually become a "state" of the United States of America. He then began to associate himself with political organizations whose ideals were pro-statehood.[7]

He then decided to study law at the University of Puerto Rico and in 1927 earned his degree. The Alliance party did not last long as a united political organization and was soon divided into two factions, one that believed in independence which would become the Liberal Party of Puerto Rico and the other composed of pro-statehooders, of which Figueroa now belonged to. He eventually joined the pro-statehood Puerto Rican Republican Party also known as the Partido Estadista de Puerto Rico, founded in 1899, by Dr. José Celso Barbosa. The party was renamed in 1930, Republican Union. He was elected to Puerto Rican House of Representatives in 1933 and in 1940 representing the districts of Bayamón-Cataño-Guaynabo. On August 19, 1944, he was named Vice President of his party.[5][8]

Puerto Rico's Gag Law

In 1948, a Bill was introduced before the Puerto Rican Senate which would restrain the rights of the independence and Nationalist movements in the island. The Senate at the time was controlled by the PPD and presided by Luis Muñoz Marín.[9] The Bill, also known as the Ley de la Mordaza (Puerto Rico's Gag Law), received the approval of the legislature on May 21, 1948. It made it illegal to display a Puerto Rican flag, to sing a patriotic tune, to talk of independence, and to fight for the liberation of the island. The Bill which resembled the anti-communist Smith Law passed in the United States, was signed into law on June 10, 1948, by the U.S.-appointed governor of Puerto Rico, Jesús T. Piñero and became known as Ley 53 (Law 53).[10]

Under this new law it would be a crime to print, publish, sell, or exhibit any material intended to paralyze or destroy the insular government; or to organize any society, group or assembly of people with a similar destructive intent. Anyone accused and found guilty of disobeying the law could be sentenced to ten years imprisonment, a fine of $10,000 dollars (US), or both. According to Figueroa, the only member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives who did not belong to the PPD,[1] the law was repressive and was in violation of the First Amendment of the US Constitution which guarantees Freedom of Speech. He pointed out that the law as such was a violation of the civil rights of the people of Puerto Rico.[11]

New Progressive Party

Figueroa was elected to the Puerto Rican Senate in 1952, 1956, 1960 and 1964, representing the Republican Union. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of Puerto Rico (1951–1952). On January 22, 1967, the Republican Union called for an assembly to discuss the Puerto Rican status issue. A result of the meeting was the creation of the political organization "Estadistas Unidos" (United Statehooders) which was renamed "Partido Nuevo Progressita" (New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico) a.k.a. PNP, presided by Luis A. Ferré. Figueroa joined the new organization and served in the House of Representatives and also as the organizations first representative in the Board of the State Elections.[12] In 1968, Luis A. Ferré was elected Governor of Puerto Rico and the PNP gained control of the Puerto Rican House Representatives. Angel Viera Martínez was named president of the House and he in turn named Figueroa his parliamentary assessor.[1][5]

Legacy

Figueroa continued in his political position until his death on October 15, 1969. He is buried at the Cementerio Santa Maria Magdalena De Pazzis in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.[1] The Government of Puerto Rico named a public housing project "Leopoldo Figueroa Carreras" in his honor. On December 22, 2006, the Government of Puerto Rico approved Law 282, which declares every September 21 of every year as "Leopoldo Figueroa Day".[1]

Further reading

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Figueroa and the second or maternal family name is Carreras.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Ley Núm. 282 del año 2006
  2. ↑ "About Eugenio María de Hostos (1839-1903)". Hostos Community College. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  3. ↑ "José de Diego". The World of 1898: The Spanish-American War. Hispanic Division, Library of Congress. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  4. ↑ Miles, Nelson Appleton (1896). Personal Recollections and Observations of General Nelson A. Miles. Embracing a Brief View of the Civil War, or, From New England to the Golden Gate : and the Story of his Indian Campaigns, with Comments on the Exploration, Development and Progress of Our Great Western Empire". Chicago: Werner.
  5. 1 2 3 Puerto Rico Encyclopedia
  6. ↑ World of 1898, Spanish-American War
  7. ↑ "Hombres de Primera Plana (1958)", by: Teofilo Maldonado; página 136.
  8. ↑ Salón de Audiencias Leopoldo Figueroa Carreras
  9. ↑ "La obra jurídica del Profesor David M. Helfeld (1948-2008)'; by: Dr. Carmelo Delgado Cintrón
  10. ↑ "Puerto Rican History". Topuertorico.org. January 13, 1941. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  11. ↑ La Gobernación de Jesús T. Piñero y la Guerra Fría
  12. ↑ "Historia Política de Puerto Rico (2003); By: Antonio Quiñones Calderón
  13. ↑ Presentation of the book about Leopoldo
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